![]() ![]() The false churl, Claudius, made a complaint against Virginius, and the judge summoned him to hear the charge against him. The judge’s name was Appius, the narrator now tells us, before asserting “So was his name, for this is no fable”, but a “historial thyng notable” (a notable historical event). He sent after a churl, who he knew was clever and brave, and told him the plan, giving him precious, expensive gifts for his complicity. At that, the devil ran into his heart, and taught him how he, by trickery, could have the maid for his own. He was so caught by the maid’s beauty that he concluded “This mayde shal be myn”. The maid one day went into the town, toward a temple, with her mother, where a judge who governed the town, saw the knight's daughter, and lusted after her. The narrator then breaks off to address governesses and parents, telling them to bring up their children to be virtuous. ![]() ![]() She was also humble in speech and avoided events which might compromise her virtue. The daughter possessed a beauty so great that even Pygmalion could not have created her equal. As Titus Livius tells us, there was once a knight called Virginius who had many friends, much wealth, and a loving wife and daughter. ![]()
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